Dec. 15, 2009
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IOWA CITY – University of Iowa Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach Larissa Libby has announced that Nicole Pineau from Coquitlam, British Columbia has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Iowa next fall. Pineau, in her final year at Port Coquitlam’s Archbishop Secondary, is the first commitment of the 2010 recruiting class.
“We are very excited about signing Nicole. She is really the total package,” said Libby. “Nicole is intelligent, respectful, disciplined, and a phenomenal athlete who strives to be the best in everything she does. She will be a great addition to our team as an all-arounder, and the depth that she can provide our team will be crucial to our success.”
Pineau has been training for over a decade, and is one of British Columbia’s most decorated gymnasts at her level, consistently ranked in the nation’s top 12. She placed second at the 2009 B.C. Championships and ninth overall at nationals. In the open division of last year’s nationals, Pineau earned silver on floor, fifth on vault, sixth on all-around and eighth on beam, as she went on to represent Team B.C. at the 2007 Winter Games.
“We are extremely happy that Nicole will be attending Iowa,” said Nicole’s mother Denise. “When we made the visit in September, it all came together so nicely with the wonderful welcome from the coaches, and the excitement of being able to join such a fantastic school and gym program.”
With the 2010 season just around the corner, much work will be done before Pineau arrives next fall. The Hawkeyes will kick off their season when they travel to Ann Arbor, MI, Jan. 9 for a meet against the Wolverines.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for her to be able to experience NCAA gymnastics as well as a strong academic U.S. university,” added Denise. “We are confident that this was definitely the right choice for Nicole and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”